Freight bracing apparatus



Aug. 24, 1965 H. W. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 21, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet1 Aug; 24, 1965 H, w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS original Filed sept. 21, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet2 Aug. 24, 1965 H. W. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet5 Aug. 24, 1965 H, w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet4 l1g 24, 1955 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS originalFiled sept. 21, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Allg- 24, 1965 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Aug. 24, 1965 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL FREIGHTBRAGING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 Allg-24, 1965 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL. 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 i 15Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug 24, 1965 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Sept. 2l.1954 Aug. 24, 1965 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet10 if awww/st Aug. 24, 1965 H, w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRAGING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 l5 Sheets-Sheet1l ug- 24, 1965 H. w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l. 1954 l5 Sheets-Sheet12 Aug. 24, 1965 H. W. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS original Filed sept. 21, 1954 15 sheets-sheet1s Aug. 24, 1965 H. W. CHAPMAN ETAL FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS OriginalFiled Sept. 2l, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 l- I- TW ELE-3% ENTRS Han/e /Cwdman? rrarA/z/st Aug. 24, 1965 H, w. CHAPMAN ETAL 3,202,111

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet15 United States Patent O 2 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 369) This application is adivisional application of copen'ding .application Serial No. 683,285,filed September 1l, 1957, now abandoned which was `a division of `ourapplication Serial No. 457,474, filed September 21, 1954, now Patent No.2,834,304.

T-he present invention relates to the loading, -stow-age and `securingof freight in ships, Warehouses, freight cars and trucks, Kand otherfreight storage and freight hauling equipment. More specifically, theinvention relates to freight loading equipment `adapted for permanentinstallation and especi-ally adapted to the stowage of palletized loads.Most specifically, the invention relates to permanently installedapparatus, dunnage and other equipment for the stowage of ammunition andother dangerous cargo in the holds of ships, which equipment isespecially designed to expedite the breaking out of portions of thecargo, without disturbing unwanted cargo, while under way at sea.

At the present time freight, especially dangerous freight such asammunition, has been loaded into ships, freight cars, trucks, etc., andsecured by wooden framework l'a'boriously erected by hand as loadingprogresses. In ships lall freight, whether explosive or not, must besecured lagainst shifting when the vessel rolls or pitches while underway at sea. The cleats, diagonal braces, frameworks, blocks, wedges,etc. used for this purpose are wasteful of space, seldom can be re-usedand nearly always have to be tailored or re-arranged for each load.Freight stowed in this manner is diicult to break out for unloadingwithout disturbing that portion of car-go not to be unloaded. In shipsused for transfer of cargo at sea, especially when under way, thebreaking out of the cargo is the major hold-up in the operation. As aresult, the .cargo to be transferred usually has been broken out inadvance of the transfer operation `and hauled out on deck where it wasexposed to the weather and enemy action and free to slide about with theroll of the ship. With ammunition, this has been most dangerous.

Whatever the type of freight hauling vehicle, whether it be a ship, afreight car, or a truck, or a storage area such as a warehouse, it wouldbe advantageous to pack rthe freight on pallets, handle i-t on pallets,stow the freight in palletized form and unload it still on the originalpallet. In ships especially, until the present, there was no convenientway to stow and safely secure palletized freight without resort totemporary wooden dunnage. The latter is usually disposed of because, ifit is not needed, it presents a 'serious stowage problem. With sea.transfer ships, the wooden dunnage cannot be disposed of while underway because it would leave a trail hundreds of miles long.

It is a principal object, therefore, to provide freight loadingapparatus for permanent installation which will safely secure any typeof freight and which permits quick and easy breakout of any por-tionofthe cargo.

Another important object yof this invention is to provide freightloading apparatus including portable, removable self-stowing dunnagemembers.

Still another important object is to provide freight loading apparatususing a combinaiton of fixed and portable members which are of standarddimensions enabling the planning of the load before actual loadingbegins, yet which embodyy such flexibility that unexpected varlations infreight dimensions or variations hold dimensions from ship to'ship caneasily be accommodated.

Another important object of this invention is to provide freight loadingapparatus which conserves space, provides greater accessibility, andsimplifies reibracing of the load after a portion has been removed.

Yet another object is to provide freight loading apparatus employingstandard members which are capable of highly specialized applicationssuch as the stowing and securing of munitions nanging from the smallestcrated or palletized types to the large-st individually 'loaded bombsand shells.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent, or will become apparent,in the following .more detailed description of the invention, especiallywhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View with portion-s broken away yof one holdof a cargo ship in which .the freight loading apparatus vof thisinvention is installed, and showing in particular the various manners inwhich the apparatus may be utilized to secure various kin-ds o-ffreight;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View, partially in section, showing one mannerof installing the permanent deck members utilizing hold-down plates tovsecure a channellike sectioned member;

FIGURE 3 is Va perspective view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a manner ofinstalling permanent longitudinal deck members having .a hat section bymeans of studs welded Ito the deck together with the use of removablehorizontal deck members and planking;

`FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURES 2 and l3 showing .athird manner of installing the permanent `deck members, this methodutilizing angle guides, angle brackets and seat plates;

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the manner inwhich a channel-shaped longitudinal deck member may be secured to thedeck and removable horizontal deck members and planking secured thereto;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view, with portions broken away land in section, of.a portable deck member intended to be secured ove-r the top of thepermanent deck members of FIGURES 1 to 4 in order to locate. :a bracingstruc- .ture `at intermediate points within the sides of the gridlikepattern;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the member of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective` View, with portions broken away, of one endof the portable deck member of FIG- URES 5 and 6, and showing in`particular the latching mechanism installed on both ends of such member;

FIG-URE 8 is an end view of the portable deck member of FIGURES 5 to 7,the view being taken in the direction of the arrow 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is `a cross sectional View of the portable deck member lofFIGURE-S 5 to 8, the section being `taken along the line 9 9 of FIGURE5;

yFIGURE 10 is ya side elevational view, with portions broken away and insection, `showing a telescoping vertical freight bnacing member such asis shown in FIG- URES 1 to 4, erected on the gridlike pattern of holesin the deck members;

FIGURE 1-1 is a fragmentary llongitudinal section through thelatch-locking end of the vertical bracing portable deck i member ofIFIGURE 10, the section being defined between the arrows 11, 11 ofFIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional View of the vertical bracing member VofFIGURE 10, the section being alongV the line 12--12 of FIGURE 10;

`FIGURE 13 is another cross sectional view of the vetical bracing memberof FIGURE l0, lthe section being taken `along the line 13-13 yof FIGURE10, showing in particular the manner of securing the ends of thetelescope spring mechanism;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away and insection, of a tomming member (horizontal freight brace) such as is`shown erected in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 15 is a cross sectional view of the square central body portionof the t-omming member of FIG- URE 14, the section being taken along theline 15-15 of FIGURE 14;

IFIGURE 16 is a cross sectional view showing the lock pin assembly of.the tom'ming member of FIGURE 14, theV section being taken along theline 16-16 of FIG- URE 14;

FIGURE 17 is a cross sectional view through one end of the tommingmember showing the offset nature of the mounting of the latch member;

`FIGURE 18 is an enlarged view, with portions broken away and insection, of one of the latch ends of the tomming member of FIGURES 14 to17, the portion enlarged being indicated by the line 13-18 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 19 is a .side elevational view, with portions broken away and insection, of a pivotable adjustable short bracing member intended forhorizontal, oblique or vertical bracing between adjacent verticalbracing members and/or horizontal tornming members;

FIGURE 20 is a cross sectional view of the pivotable bracing members ofFIGURE 19, showing in particular the extension members, the sectionbeing taken on the line 20-20 of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is a side elevational view of a cargo jack for use in loadingfreight with t-he apparatus of FIG- URES 1 to 20, showing in particularthe manner in which it is secured in the holes in the permanent,removable or portable deck members;

FIGURE 22 is an end view of the cargo jack of FIG- URE 21, the figurebeing viewed in the direction of the arrow 22 of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 23 is a side elevational view of a spring loaded telescoping bombor shell wedgel assembly for use in connection with the vertical andhorizontal bracing members of the foregoing drawings, the wedge of thisgure being used to brace and position t-he bombs in storage racks;

FIGURE 24 is an enlargedend view of the locking mechanism of the bombwedge assembly of FIGURE 23, the gure being Viewed along the line 24-24of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 25 is an end view of the bomb wedge of FIGURE 23, the figurebeing viewed as if along the line 25-25 of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 26 is a side elevational view of an adjustable chain-type bombwedge assembly for use in connection with the vertical and horizontalbracing members of the foregoing drawings, the wedge of this figurelikewise being used to snug bombs or shells in racks, the ligure.showing in particular a rubber-or-plastic-coated, tapered bombcontacting insulator;

FIGURE 27 is an end view, partially in section, of the inner end of thebomb wedge of FIGURE 26, the figure being viewed lalong the line 27-27of FIGURE 26;

FIGURE 28 is a side elevational view in section of an adjustable bombchock assembly for use with the permanent, removable or portable deckmembers and the vertical and horizontal bracing members of the foregoingdrawings, the figure showing in particular the deck anchor pins forinsertion in the holes in the deck or bracing members;

FIGURE 29 is an end view partially in section of the bomb chock ofFIGURE 28, the section being viewed as if taken substantially along line29-29 of FIGURE 28;

FIGURE 30 is a side elevational View, with portions broken away and insection, of a hook and shackle assembly for use in securing chains orcables in the deck or bracing members of the foregoing drawings;

FIGURE 31 is an end or transverse View of the hook and shackle assemblyof 'FIGURE 30, the figure being viewed along the line 331-31 of FIGURE30;

FIGURE 32 is a plan view of an auxiliary, portable T-shaped deck oroverhead member for use in erecting verticle bracing members at pointswithin a grid unit;

FIGURE 33 is a side view of the members of FIG- URE 32;

FIGURE 34 is a diagrammatic plan View showing one manner of using themember of FIGURES 32 and 33;

FIGURE 35 is a sectional view through the vertical bracing member ofFIGURES l0 to 13 and showing attached thereto an adjustable snuggingmember to enable the bracing member to support the cargo in situationswhere it is not possible or practical to correctly position a verticalbracing member; and,

FIGURE 36 is a fragmentary side view of the adjustable snugger of FIGURE35, showing in particular one arrangement of holes provided foradjustability.

In accordance with the present invention, there has been provided afreight loading apparatus intended for more or less permanentinstallation in a freight transporting vehicle such as a ship, freightcar, or truck, or warehouse and t-he like, which apparatus comprises agrid of fixed and/or removable deck members of structural metalassembled on a freight supporting or other surface, preferably thoughnot necessarily arranged in a square or rectangular pattern and disposedparallel or at an angle with the conning walls or surfaces andobstructions and other inpedimenta so as to make the most eiiicient useof the surface area available; a matching gridlike pattern of structuralmetal deck members supported in a substantially parallel alignment onthe overhead above that on the freight supporting surface or opposed tothe other surface, the members of eac-h grid pattern having on theirjuxtaposed exposed surfaces, at least, a pattern of aligned holes;portable deck members having a pattern of holes in an exposed surfaceand which span at least one unit of the gridlike pattern of deck andoverhead members to serve as bulkhead anchors, etc. and as a base forthe erection of bracing members at nearly any point within the patternunit; and telescopically adjustable, vertical and horizontal freightbracing members likewise having a pattern of holes on their surfaces,which bracing members are adapted to be erected on or between theopposed gridlike patterns by locking inthe holes therein, together withauxiliary equipment such as T-shaped portable auxiliary members having apattern of holes to assist in erection of vertical members any place onthe surface, pivotable auxiliary bracing members for horizontal, obliqueor vertical bracing between deck members and/or vertical or horizontalfreight bracing members; a movable trolley or crane adapted to be lockedinto overhead pattern holes, a cargo jack which is anchored to thegridlike pattern of holes in the deck; and other permanent or reusabledunnage items such as quickly attached and de tached chock assemblies,wedge assemblies and hook and shackle assemblies adapted to co-operatewith the gridlike pattern of holes in the deck and bracing members toanchor or secure freight of any size or shape. The freight loadingapparatus facilitates loading because the use of standardized unitspermits the planning of loads in 'advance (and eliminates the skilledhand labor usually involved in installation of wooden framing anddunnage), yet such planningk is not upset by wide variations in cratesizes, pallet sizes or ship-to-ship hold size variations, permitsmaximum accessibiltiy, facilitates breakout of portions of cargo, and isself-stowing when not in use. The apparatus permits an almost endlessnumber of combinations or groupings of members to secure any type, size,shape or weight of freight due to the ability to erect verticals anyplace on the deck or freight supporting surface. Maximum utilization ofthe stowage volume is `provided due to the ease of vertical stacking.For dangerous cargo7 such as ammunition, special racks, frames,bulkheads, bins and the like may be erected with the mechano-likebracing and securing members to provide an extra margin of safetyagainst shifting or collapse of the stowed cargo. The stowage andsecuring of palletized cargo is especially facilitated by the freightloading apparatus of this invention.

The installation of the freight loading apparatus of this invention isdescribed herein as having been installedon acargo vessel since therequirements of marine use are the most rigorous and complex of any modeof freight transport. It is to be understood, however, that theapparatus is equally applicable to other freight transporting vehiclesand to warehouses and other freight storage areas. In FIGURE 1 there isshown a perspective view of one hold of an ocean-going freighter, thehold being under the main deck and having a second deck (not shown), athird deck 20 below the second deck, a irst platform 22 below the thirddeck 20 and an inner bottom 24 below the first platform. On the thirddeck and inner bottom, there is somewhat schematically illustrated agridlike pattern of deck and overhead members including parallellongitudinalstructural metal members 26 running lengthwise of the shipand short horizontal structural member 28 extended across `or betweenthe longitudinal, both types of deck members being fixed to the deck byany of the methods illustrated in FIGURES 2 to 4A. On the first platform22 there is shown a slightly different, alternative arrangement of deckmembers wherein there are, as on the third deck 20 and inner bottom 24,longitudinal structural metal members 26 extending fore and aft of theship and removable transverse or horizontal deck members 3() (see FIG.3) which have spring-biased clevis latch pins 32 on their ends forinsertion into and locking with any of a pattern of holes 34 on thesides of the fixed longitudinal deck members 26. In both cases thelongitudinal 26 and horizontal 28, 30 deck members are preferablyarrangedto form squares.

In both of the gridlike pattern systems illustrated in FIGURE 1 thegridlike deck pattern is duplicated on the overhead surface 33 and on aframework 35 over the bottom gussets 37 so that the opposed members ofeach pattern are in accurate alignment. In both arrangements of deckmembers 26, 28 (or 30), their exposed surfaces (see FIGURES 2 to 4) haveat least two, and preferably three, lines of holes 36 in which thedistance between lines and holes are, preferably, though notnecessarily, the same. This provides a gridlike pattern of holes in deckand overhead in any pair of which various types of selflocking bracingmembers, cargo jacks, chock assemblies, wedge assemblies and chain andcable hook and shackle assemblies may be secured. Any of the latter maybe inserted in a group of holes in one line or across the lines inadjacent, aligned holes. As will be pointed out in greater detail inconjunction with FIGURES 4 to 9, portable `deck members Si) areprovided, which have a length enabling them to span the grid in eitherdirection, which are locked into holes to serve as bulkhead stops, as abase for verticals and as an anchor for racks, chocks, wedges, jacks,etc., at any intermediate point within the sides of the square of thedeck grid. This enables the erection of verticale at nearly any position0n the freight loading surface.

As will be more clearly described in connection with FIGURES to 13, thevertical or upright bracing members haveY on all four sides a pattern oflines or a line of holes 36 arranged on the same center distance patternas those of the deck members 26, 28 or 30. This permits the insertion ofhorizontal self-locking pivotable bracing and tomming members such asare shown in greater detail in FIGURES 14 to 18. Together with thevertical bracing members 120 and/ or portable deck members 80,bulkheads, walls,`racks, shelves, anchors, etc. of nearly any shape,description or complexity may be erected anywhere on the freightsupporting surface. The horizontal bracing or tomming members 190 andportable deck members 80` likewise have on their exposed surfaces apattern of lines of holes'36 matching that of the deck and verticalmembers. This permits the use of oblique bracing such as the pivotableauxiliary brace 260 shown in FIGURES 19 and 20 or therattachment of any0f the dunnage members of FIGURES 21 to 3l.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 2 to 4, it will be seen thatthe longitudinal deck members 26 may have a simple channel cross sectionas shown in FIG- URES 2 and 4, or `a hat section as shown in FIGURE i 3,or the shape of any other channel-like structural member. As shown inFIGURES 2 `and 4A, a series of stud bolts 50 are welded directly to themetal deck 52.` Over the resulting lines of studs a hold down plate 54is bolted and the longitudinal deck members 26 are edge welded directlythereto. For the deck member arrangement of the third deck and innerbottom, the horizontal deck members are secured inthe same fashion. Aswill appear in` FIGURE 3, the `longitudinal deck members 26 having a hatsection are secured by 'parallel lines of studs 50 welded directly tothedeck and which are passed through bolt holes provided `in the projectingiiange 55. The

ange is then slipped over the studs and secured thereto.`

Also, as shown in FIGURE 4longitudinal deck member 26, of simple channelcross section, may be provided with welded-on washers 56 and anglebrackets'SS. An aligned pattern of studs 50 is first Welded directly tothe deck URE 1 the longitudinal members 26 may be anchoredto the metalship deck by any of the methods shown in FIGURES 2 to 4 and by any othersuitable arrangement. In the arrangement shown on the first platform(FIG- URE 3), however, the horizontal deck members 30- are removable andare anchored on both ends in holes 34 in the longitudinals by means'of aspring biased U-type of clevis 32 wherein the pinlike ends 66 areinserted in the holes 34. The pins 66 are retracted by a screwdriverliketool, rod or lever inserted through one of the holes 36 so as to engagethe closed end of clevis 32 and retract it against the action of spring68. The use of removable horizontals 30 provides a flush deck andpermits the ready re-arrangement of the basic grid patterns on the deckand overhead surfaces to suit special cargo types. The apparatusemploying fixed horizontals, however, is less expensive to build andmaintain due to the lesser number of latches, tools, etc. required, andit also contributes greater rigidity and load-bearing ability to themetal deck or other freight supporting surface. Y

With either xed or removable horizontal deck and overheadmembers, theinterior area of each square of the grid is usually filled in withsuitable top decking material, such as the wood planking '70 shown inFIGURES 2 to 4, or synthetic tile, rubber or plastic-covered compositionboard, and the like. This is to provide a level non-sparking surface onwhich to stow freight. As shown y in FIGURES 2 and 4, the wood plankingor plywood can be secured to the metal deck by several lines of studs5t) welded directly to the deck. The latter arrangement contributesincreased rigidity and weight carrying capacity to the deck. Theoverhead grid pattern, however, usually is not lled in this manner.Likewise, as shown in FIGURE 3, with the arrangement utilizing removablehorizontals 30, the space inside the square is filled in with removableplanking members 72 each member having a U type clevis latch 32 similarto that of the removable horizontal deck members 30. While thisarrangement is more versatile, the planking 72 does not contributerigidity to the deck. If desired, for the stowage of ammunition, thevarious metal deck and bracing members can be provided with anon-sparking rubber or plastic covering or be made of a non-sparkingmetal such as aluminum.

Portable deck members 90 therebetween. The bottom plates 81 and thechannel 82 are bolted together by carriage type bolts 83 tapped intospacer legs 85 integral with the plates 81. The pins 86, 88 and 90 areinserted in any three holes in a pair of horizontal or longitudinal deckor overhead members 26, 28 or between any parallel pair of vertical orhorizontal bracing or tomming members.

The end-lock arrangement for pins 86, 88 is best seen in FIGURES 5 and7, the pins each being secured to a lever 92 which is pivoted on itsinner end on a pin 94 passed through bottom plate 81. Each of pins S6,88 are secured to lever 92 by a lock nut 100 and large washer 101. Eachlever 92 has a transversely projecting lock handle portion 96 havingupturned or downturned end 9S, the handles 96 passing over or under theother lever 92 to poject on the far side. Across the postlike upper ends192 of the pins there is secured a transverse extension spring 104 whichurges the pins 86, 88 together. The upper ends 102 are supported bybearing against the upper inner surface of the channel web.V Since theinner surfaces of each of the lock pins are cut away to form a dog orshoulder 106, the action of spring 104 will cause the latter to engagethe inner circumference of each grid hole 36 and lock the memberthereto. moval of lock pins 86, 83 from the holes are facilitated by theconically tapered lower ends S. The end lock mechanism on each end ofthe member is Vreleased by simultaneously pressing in on each upturnedend 98 of the lock handle portion 96 of levers 92, this movementreleasing the shoulders 106 and freeing the pins 86, S3. The end-lockmechanism may also be opened by inserting a round-ended bar, or otherlike tool, through one of the holes 36 near the intersection of thelevers 92 and rotating to spread'the inner ends thereof, thereby causingthe outer spring-biased ends to move outwardly to release them, orposition them for entry into the holes 36 of the deck or bracingmembers. The xed pin 9) then is brought into position and the lock pins86, 88 forced into the holes and the tool withdrawn, release of theinner ends of the levers permitting the spring 104 to move the pins 86,88 into locking position. As is shown most clearly in FIG- URE 5, one ofthe lock levers 92 has an integral cam surface 110 formed by spotwelding a piece of metal to top surface 4 of the lever to bring it levelwith the top surface of the other lever, the rounded cam surface 110serving as a smooth tool engaging surface against which the unlockingtool rotates. As will be noted, the portable deck member 30, unlike thepermanent deck grid members, has in its Insertion and red top surface112 only a single line of holes 36. Since the member can be placed atany point in the sides of the squares a double row is usuallyunnecessary, although any number of lines could be provided, if desired.

Vertical bracing member FIGURES l0 to 13 illustrate very clearly theconstruction of the telescoping vertical freight bracing member 120. Thelatter has a main body portion 122 of substantially square cross sectionhaving in each of its sides a pattern of holes 36 corresponding inspacing to that of the deck grid members 26, 28. While othercross-sectional shapes may be employed, it has been found that thesquare section is most versatile. On one end of the square body portion,normally considered the top end of the member, there is a projectingtelescope member 124 also having a square cross section. Welded to VtheAouter end of telescope member 124 is a head plate 126 on which areintegral pins 123 spaced at twice the distance between holes 36 forinsertion in the permanent or portable deck and overhead grid holes 36.On the other end of member 120, there is a projecting lock pin or latchassembly 139 comprising a sleeve 132 of square cross section which isbolted into the end of body section 122 by means of bolts 134. Attachedto the outer end of sleeve 132 is a head plate 136 to which are attachedtwo xed loadbearing pins 128 similar to those on the upper end and whichalso are spaced apart at twice the distance between grid holes 36.Between pins 128 there is provided a lock pin 140 which extends througha hole 138 in head plate 136 and is an integral part of a pivotablelatch lever 142. The latter is pivoted on a hollow shaft 144 which isextended across and held in place in the sleeve 133 by the body section122. Collars 146 are provided to prevent chance displacement of shaft144. In order'to make the latch lever 142 and its projecting pin 140self-locking, a small projection or arm 148 on lever 142 is connected toan extension spring 159 having its other end connected to a pin 152which is extended across sleeve 132 and held in position by theoverlapping body section 122.

The lock pin 14) is operated by raising a projecting handle section 156of lever 142 or depressing handle 157 until the doglike shoulder 15g oflock pin 140 is disengaged from the edge of the hole 36. Similarly, thehandle 156 is raised or the handle 157 depressed, to insert the locatorpins 123 and the lock pin 140 in the grid holes 36. Releaseof thehandles automatically locks the lower end of the member 120 in position.

r[he square upper telescope slide member 124 is supported in a squaresleeve 17d which is bolted into the end of body section 122 by means ofbolts 171, the sleeve having integral end plates 172 and 173 which serveas supports for slide 124. On its inner end, slide member 124 isconnected to a round extension shaft 174 by means of an end plate orcollar and by a bolt 177 passing diagonally through the slide 124 andextension shaft 174. On its other end, extension shaft 174 is supportedby a diagonal Spanner-type slip collar 176 having rounded ends which titinto the corners of body 122. A pair of elongated bolts 17S are passedthrough end plate 173 and through slip collar 176 to compress acompression spring 18? disposed around the extension shaft 174.Tightening or loosening of the nuts on bolts 178 increases or decreasesthe force exerted by spring 180. The latter is adjusted to exertsuicient force to support the full weight of the member 121D so as tomaintain engagement of the pins 128 in the grid holes 36 whether themember is used right side up or upside down.

In use, the vertical bracing member 120 may be installed by rstinserting the pins 123 in its upper telescope ing end in the holes 36 ofthe overhead grid, pushing upwardly on the member to telescope itsuiciently to give clearance to the lower lock pin end 130, and thenpulling upwardly on latch lever handle 156 to permit the insertionV ofpins 12S, 146 in the holes 36 of the deck grid memthe vertical member120 in order to make contact with` odd-shaped items of cargo and yetpresent a straight line of verticals to the next tier` of freight or toan aisle. In casethe freight is odd-shaped or standardized crates orpallets are incorrectly dimensioned, the added thickness of wood ormetal would do away with the necessity for having one vertical out ofline with respect to the others in the same line.

T ommng member The details of horizontal bracing member, or tommingmember 190, are shown in FIGURES 14 to 18. Like the vertical bracingmember .120, the member 190 has an outer body section 192 `of squarecross section but it differs in that both ends are telescopicallyadjustable and hence provided with latch locks on both ends. Thetelescopic end members, however, are not spring-loaded but rather arelocked by a lock pin assembly (FIGURE 116) which passes entirely throughthe member. It should :also be noted that the end lock members aremounted off center (FIGURE 17) at different distances with respect toeach center line of the member vto permit rotation of the body section192 to take up progressive increments tof slack between one or more gridholes 36. As shown fin FIGURE 14, the body section 192 has on either end`an inner telescope slide or sleeve 194, square in cross section andprovided on two sides with holes 196 having a closer spacingthan theholes 36 in outer body section 192, for example, 1.25 inch as against1.5 inch for the holes 36. The sleeves 194 dio not meet in the center`of t-he body 192 so as to permit them to slide inwardly to shorten themember. Likewise, the sleeves 194 can be slid out to lengthen themember. Inside ea-oh of the outwardly projecting end portions of sleeves194 there are two transverse shaft bearing end plates 197 in which issupported a short, round, hollow shaft 198, the latter being located`olf center in end plates 197 as indicated by dimension l-ines A .and Bin FIGURE 17. A 4lock head assembly 200 is welded to the outer end ofshaft 198,

and the shaft held in position by means of la bolt 202` extended throughend plate 197 and into shaft 19S. A Washer 204 and lock nut 206 areprovided on the inner end of `bolt 202 to prevent disengagement of thelock head assembly 200. With this double lock head assembly the bodyportion 192 can be rotated to take up small increments of slack betweenthe member and freight after the ends have been located in the nearestsets of holes `3&6 in the vertical members.

The .lock head assemblies each have a round body section 203, apin-supporting outer plate 205, and an inner -shafteattached plate 206.The pin-supportingplate 205 has two straight, integral locator pins 208(FIGURE 18) and an enlarged` hole 210 through which alock pin 212 ismounted. The latter has a shoulder 214 for engagement under the edge ofeach of the holes 36 in the vertical members. The lock pin 212 is anintegral part of a latch lever 216 having a handle 218 projecting oneither side. The lever 216 is pivoted on a hollow shaft |220 which isbolted in place by means of end bolts 222. On a projecting anchor arm224 there is secured a compression spring 226 having its other endanchored to a `bolt 228 in the shaft attached inner hea-d plate 207.

j The latch lever 216 can be operated by pulling or pushing on eitherhandle 213 to disengage the shoulder 214 of lock pin 212 from the edgeof the hole. Likewise, the pins 203, 212 .are inserted by firstpositioning the straighbsided pins 208 above the grid holes 36 and then`mov-ing the handles 218 until pin 212 comes into align- 1G ment allowingall three to enter the holes. Release of the handles 218 locks shoulder214 under the edge of Ithe hole 36.

As pointed out above, the sleeves 194 can be moved inwardly to giveclearance for the pins 208, 2112 and outwardly to increase the overalllength of the tomming member 190. A triangular stop 229 is provided on`opposite corners of each end of outer body member 192 to Ilimit outwardmovement, the stops being anchored by set screws 231. The sleeves V194have their corresponding corners shaped to pass over the stops, with ashoulde-r 233 provided to limit outward movement. When the length of thebar has been adjusted and the pins 208, 212 of both ends locked in theholes of the vertical members, a lock pin assembly 234 @FIGURE 16) ispassed through opposed holes 36 in body section 192 and` opposed holes196 in sleeves 194. Due to the closer spacing of holes 196 a vernieradjustment of the length of the member is possible. The lock pin 234(FIGURE 16) comprises a hollow tube 236, a pair of collars 238, and alock rod 240 passed through tube 236 and both collars. compressiblerubber or plastic washer 242 held in place by an outer cap 244. On theopposite, or handle end, of rod 240 there is secured a clevis 246 inwhichthere is mounted an eccentric handle 248, the latter having a roundcam surface 250. When the handle 24S is bnought in alignment with rod240, the washer 242 is uncompressed and can be inserted through theholes 36, 196. When, however, the handle is rotated 90 to either of theside positions indicated in solid and dotted outline, the washer 242will be compressed making it impossible to withdraw it through theholes. The lock pin assembly I234 is simple in operation and can bequickly inserted in the member after it has been mounted in place.

Short pit/afable bracing member The aforementio-ned fixed deck gridmembers, portable deck members, vertical bracing members and tommingmembers are all that are required to erect rectangular mechano-typeframeworks on the freight-supporting surfa-ces. There are occasions,however, when these rectan- .gular structures require additional bracingfor adequ-ate strength, for example, at the ends of long bulkheads, incorners, etc. For this purpose a short, telescopicallyadjustable bracingmember 260 is provided (FIGURES 19 and 20) having a pivotable endfitting 262 on each lof its ends. As .will appear in FIGURE 20, the mainbody portion 264 of this member has a channel-shaped cross section. Intothe open side of the channel there is Welded a continuous bottom plate266. In the space between the channel web and the plate 266 there areinserted on each end `of the channel the tongue 268 of each end `fitting260 and a spacer 270. The spacers 270 are held in place in .a smalldepression 272 formed or machin-ed in the web. The tongue 268 and spacer270 `are secured in position by means of a bolt 274 passed verticallythrough the channel web, the tongue 268 and plate 266. To provideadjustability each end litting tongue 268 has aseries of holes 276 alongits enclosed length. To shorten or lengthen the member the tongue ispushed in or pulled out to t-he correct position with the tongue holes276 in alignment with the bolt holes in the web and plate 266. The holes276 are slot-ted to facilitate insertion of the pins and provideadjustability in length. The length of tongues 263` and the channel bodyportion 264 are adjusted so that the member can be adjusted to spa-n thesquare of the grids either parallel to oron a diagonal.` j

Each .of the end fittings 262 is pivoted on the end of tongue 268, theend of the latter terminating in an integral T-shaped bearing housing273 through which a tubelike shaft 280 is mounted. Each end fitting 260has a web 282 connecting two side plates 284 in which the ends of shaft280 are journalled. Theinner edge of each end On one end of lock rod 240there is located a`

1. A FREIGHT ENGAGING MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND BETWEEN AND BE SUPPORTEDAT OPPOSITE ENDS ON SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SAID MEMBER COMPRISING ANELONGATED BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CENTRAL AXIS ANDADAPTED TO ENGAGE FREIGHT, A HEAD AT EACH END OF SAID BODY AND EACHSUPPORT STRUCTURE AND HOLD SAID HEAD AGAINST ROTATION SAID SUPPORTSTRUCTURE AND HOLD SAID HEAD AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, ANDMEANS MOUNTING SAID HEADS ON SAID BODY AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF FORROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID BODY ABOUT A COMMON AXIS OFFSET FORM SAIDCENTRAL AXIS.